Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport has seen 8.6% less traffic last month. With such a slump in passenger traffic right at the beginning of the busiest tourist season for the city, many worry that this is a precursor to a wider tourist decline.
Harry Reid Sees Significant Passenger Decline in May
According to Harry Reid International Airport’s own data, about 4.5 million travelers passed through its gates last month. This marks an 8.6% decline compared with the same month from last year, when nearly 5 million passengers used the airport. While domestic travel declined by more than 8% year over year, international passenger traffic also fell by 5.7%. Through the first five months of the year, the airport handled approximately 21.5 million passengers. This represents a 6.2% decrease from the same period last year, or a decline of about 1.4 million travelers.
Passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport is one of several key indicators used to gauge the overall health of the Las Vegas tourism industry. Considering that 2025 recorded fewer tourists to Las Vegas overall, the fact that last month saw a decline in passengers compared to last year is a point of concern for some businesses.
Traffic through the airport was also impacted by the cessation of operations of the ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines on May 2. The carrier handled well over half a million passengers at Harry Reid International Airport in May of last year, compared with just 3,869 travelers last month.
Spirit wasn’t the only airline to contribute to the weaker May figures. Southwest Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier by passenger volume, recorded a 0.4% year-over-year decline, serving just over 1.95 million passengers during the month.
Industry Remains Resilient Despite Visitor Drop
Interestingly, casino revenue has remained stable despite the tourist decline. Las Vegas Strip gross gaming revenue (GGR) climbed nearly 7% in April despite the drop in visitor volume. Through the first four months of the year, Strip casinos generated more than $2.9 billion in GGR, up 1.9% compared with the same period last year.
Analysts still expect May GGR to exceed the $713.7 million reported in May 2025, though the size of the increase will likely hinge on baccarat performance. April’s strong results were boosted by an unusually favorable VIP baccarat hold, and if that win rate returns to more typical levels, year-over-year growth in May could be more modest.
In addition, the total number of visitors to Las Vegas in May might not be as low as expected, as there are also those visitors who come by land routes. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is expected to release its May 2026 Executive Summary soon. The document would provide updated figures on visitor volume, convention attendance, and drive-in traffic along Interstate 15 and Interstate 11.
However, drive-in travel is also widely expected to decline. This is due to the elevated gasoline prices during May, driven by the war with Iran. Southern California has often been one of the most stable sources of tourists for Las Vegas. However, considering that the average gas price for the region topped $6 per gallon, this could discourage many from taking a trip.
In other news from Las Vegas, Sands gave $300,000 to the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth recently to expand its longstanding partnership with the organization.